NJ School and District Sustainability Grant Awardees Announced

46 grants funded by the New Jersey Education Association will help schools and school districts implement sustainability projects

Today, Sustainable Jersey for Schools announced the forty-six New Jersey schools and school districts selected to receive Sustainable Jersey for Schools grants funded by the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA). Eleven $10,000 grants and thirty-five $2,000 grants were distributed to fund a variety of projects including vertical aeroponic tower gardens, agricultural and sustainability curriculum, student green team capacity building, an outdoor classroom, a healthy habits program, enhanced recycling efforts and more.

With this contribution NJEA has provided $750,000 to support a sustainable future for children across the state through the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program. “This is an important program that directs resources into our schools and NJEA is proud to continue to work with Sustainable Jersey,” said NJEA Vice President Sean Spiller. “It is our job to help create a new generation of engaged citizens and leaders. We help ensure that we leave a better world for our students when we emphasize the value of sustainability.” In addition to the grant funding, NJEA supports Sustainable Jersey for Schools as a program underwriter.

“Congratulations to the grant recipients. Sustainable Jersey for Schools aims to empower schools with the funding needed to implement important sustainability actions,” said Randall Solomon, executive director for Sustainable Jersey. “We look forward to the completion of these projects and the ongoing efforts of these schools and school districts. The NJEA-funded grants allow communities to come together to improve outcomes for students, staff and the environment.”

Proposals were judged by an independent Blue-Ribbon Selection Committee. The Sustainable Jersey for Schools grants are intended to help school districts and schools make progress toward a sustainable future in general, and specifically toward Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification.

Recipients of $10,000 Sustainable Jersey for Schools Project Grants (alphabetical by county)

*County*	*School District*	*$10k Recipient*	*Description*
Bergen	Leonia Public	Leonia Public School District	Will promote environmental awareness and stewardship in the school community while decreasing the amount of waste produced by constructing recycling stations for the cafeterias and implementing an educational campaign consisting of an annual waste assembly, public viewing of the film "Wasted," and a “Leonia Day” environmental exposition. Details of each school’s ongoing efforts to decrease waste will be communicated to students through the environmental curriculum.
Cumberland	Vineland Public Schools	Cunningham Alternative Academy	Will purchase two outdoor greenhouses and develop an agriculture curriculum to supplement their efforts to improve student behavior. Prior success of similar projects shows that giving students the opportunity to own and maintain a garden can increase their sense of pride and accomplishment, resulting in an improved school culture and climate.
Gloucester	Gateway Regional	Gateway Regional High School	Will work with students, teachers and local businesses to create a student learning courtyard to be used by the district. The new courtyard will incorporate iSTEAM curricula, stimulate student inquiry and dialogue, and give students a place to explore topics such as biodiversity, agriculture and botany.
Mercer	Hopewell Valley Regional	Hopewell Elementary	Will expand on their efforts to provide sustainable and healthy food choices to the school community. They will partner with local experts to construct a vertical hydroponic farm in their greenhouse. This will allow the school to have a completely sustainable lettuce production system.
Monmouth	Middletown Township	Middletown High School North	Will create an outdoor learning center consisting of a greenhouse and horticultural lab that will supplement the current outdoor student garden and education on the environment, sustainability, science, agriculture and the arts. The success of the greenhouse and the student projects that come out of it will be celebrated at a grand opening ceremony during the school green fair.
Monmouth	Hazlet Township	Cove Road Elementary	Will purchase aeroponic tower gardens to supplement the sustainability curriculum by providing students with an opportunity to observe and research the growing process. The tower garden will allow the teachers to incorporate additional technology, science, engineering, math and language arts into their lessons.
Morris	Washington Township	Washington Township School District	Will create a waste reduction and recycling program for the district. Students and staff will be educated on the proper disposal of waste and recyclables and food waste will be donated to a neighboring pig farm. Snack time waste will be decreased by providing students with healthy, in-school snack options. In addition to these changes, students will also produce a video to share with their families on nutrition, the environmental impact of processed food and the issue with non-biodegradable plastics being used in food packaging.
Ocean	Toms River Regional	Toms River - High School South	Will partner with the Bordenstein Lab at Vanderbilt University to provide a cadre of rising 11th and 12th grade Authentic Science Research (ASR) students the opportunity to participate in the Wolbachia Summer Research Project, a local and international initiative to contribute to the national Wolbachia database and to teach high school students about managing mosquito populations using techniques that use molecular/micro biology. The Lab will provide online technical assistance and research materials to the school. This research could provide a sustainable means of managing mosquito population through biological pest control that could eventually contribute to a decline in New Jersey mosquito populations and the spread of Dengue and Zika viruses.
Ocean	Jackson Township	Elms Elementary	Will create a hydroponic garden system to supplement sustainability education for students from preschool to grade 5. Students will study the symbiotic relationship between plants and living organisms in the hydroponic system. The harvested produce will be donated to the Jackson Township food pantry.
Sussex	Stillwater Township	Stillwater Township Elementary	Will complete the final phase of the outdoor learning center and provide materials for using the new center as a place to teach sustainability education with the help of community groups and local businesses. Will install an outdoor classroom area and a Monarch butterfly waystation/pollinator garden.
Sussex	High Point Regional	High Point Regional School District	Will supplement school recycling and sustainability efforts the High Point Regional School District. The three primary objectives are to: educate the school community about single-stream recycling, design and build new recycling/trash centers and create art in the style of glass artist Dale Chihuly using recyclables (primarily water bottles).

Recipients of $2,000 Sustainable Jersey for Schools Project Grants (alphabetical by county)

*County*	*School District*	*$2k Recipient*	*Description*
Atlantic	Weymouth Township	Weymouth Township Elementary	Will implement a yoga and mindfulness program to teach self-regulation, reduce stress and anger, stimulate better physical vitality and promote a productive learning community.
Atlantic	Somers Point	New York Avenue School	Will plant and maintain a butterfly pollinator garden that will be used to teach students about the nature of ecosystems and the impact pollinators have on them.
Atlantic	Egg Harbor Township	E.H. Slaybaugh Elementary	Will install an outdoor classroom adjacent to the existing school garden to provide students, staff and community members an area where they can enjoy learning about the outdoors and collect data on the garden by observing the plans and pollinators.
Atlantic	Somers Point	Dawes Avenue Elementary	Will install two water bottle refilling stations to encourage students and staff to drink more water and reduce plastic bottle waste.
Bergen	Tenafly	Tenafly High	Will renovate an empty courtyard space into an outdoor area where students can read, relax, study and observe the wildlife. The courtyard will use native plants and recycled materials.
Camden	Bellmawr	Bell Oaks Elementary	Will provide two tower gardens, so students will have an in-house way to study the growth and maintenance of plants. The produce will be used in the cafeteria and an 8th grade students book study of Seedfolks will compare the garden highlighted in the novel to the tower gardens in the school.
Camden	Bellmawr	Ethel M. Burke Elementary	Will create a drought resistant rock garden that uses native plants as part of a literature-meets-science project. Students will read the book Only One You and paint their own rock to add to the garden to celebrate their unique selves and learn the importance of water conservation.
Camden	Bellmawr	Bellmawr Park Elementary	Will install a garden at the district's Early Childhood Center to include lettuce plants that will be used in the cafeteria. Preschool students will start the seeds with portable indoor greenhouses and older students will explore the garden through the school's new Discovery Science program.
Camden	Winslow Township	Winslow Township School No.4 Elementary	Will create a school garden through the collaboration of the green team, staff, parents and community members.
Camden	Winslow Township	Winslow Township School No.1 Elementary	Will initiate a Get Moving Challenge composed of an in-school program focused on walking and yoga and a take-home challenge that encourages the continuation of healthy habits at home. As part of the program, teachers will a be invited to an after-school yoga session.
Camden	Winslow Township	Winslow Township Middle	Will install two vertical gardens to teach students about alternative forms of gardening and to maximize the yield of produce grown in a limited space. The gardens will supplement the sustainable agriculture, hydroponics, aquaponics and food supply curriculum.
Camden	Winslow Township	Winslow Township High School	Will install two water bottle refilling stations to encourage students to drink more water and to discourage the consumption of sugary beverages. Health classes will educate students on the amount of water that the body needs to remain adequately hydrated and the negative effects of high sugar and caffeine-filled drink products.
Essex	Caldwell - West Caldwell	Lincoln Elementary	Will supplement bike to school promotion efforts by purchasing bicycle racks and hosting a "bike rodeo" in conjunction with the local police department to foster safe riding habits.
Gloucester	National Park Borough	National Park Elementary	Will use grant to support efforts to reduce waste and promote recycling.
Hunterdon	High Bridge Borough	High Bridge Middle	Will transform the library into a Makerspace that will provide students with access to materials for crafting, engineering, designing, building robotics or exploring media.
Mercer	West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional	Grover Middle	Will install two new water bottle refilling stations to continue efforts to go green by using less plastic. Students and staff will be educated on the importance of conserving water.
Mercer	Lawrence Township	Benjamin Franklin Elementary	Will implement a Ben Franklin Bikers and Hikers Program that expands on efforts to encourage walking to school. The program, developed in collaboration with local agencies, will include the installation of bike racks, bicycle safety training and helmets and bike locks for students in need.
Mercer	Ewing Township	Ewing High	Will implement Sustainability Infusion, a student-led initiative that will encompass collaborative cross-curriculum projects including culinary arts, wellness education, environmental, Life and Earth sciences and life skills.
Mercer	Ewing Township	Parkway Elementary	Will renovate courtyard space to be more widely used as an outdoor classroom by improving on the current garden design, adding weather research equipment and developing more efficient garden beds for different grade level use.
Mercer	West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional	J.V.B. Wicoff Elementary	Will expand the school’s sustainability curriculum to include educating second-grade students on the steps they can take to be more sustainable at home. The second-grade students will then teach the kindergarteners what they have learned and work together with them to create a how-to book to be shared with the community.
Monmouth	Atlantic Highlands	Atlantic Highlands Elementary	Will replace all the school’s existing water fountains with water bottle refilling stations to eliminate the use of plastic water bottles in the school. Students will be educated on the importance of water as well as the environmental consequences of processed bottled water.
Monmouth	Township of Ocean	Ocean Township High School	Will support the efforts of a school Garden Club to bring students and local community members together to build a garden.
Morris	Boonton Township	Rockaway Valley School	Will support green team activities and projects that will be submitted for Sustainable Jersey Schools certification including support for the school garden, recycling efforts and a green fair.
Morris	Pequannock Township	Pequannock Township High School	Will support the school's efforts to achieve certification including developing relationships with community members to assist the school with its sustainability initiatives.
Morris	Washington Township	Old Farmers Road Elementary	Will kick-off a school wellness initiative.
Morris	Washington Township	Flocktown-Kossmann Elementary	Will train school staff on mindfulness methods to help them better meet the demands of their practice without getting burnt out
Ocean	Toms River Regional	Toms River - Intermediate East	Will update greenhouse with a heater, more planter boxes and irrigation supplies to ensure that more students can participate in educational opportunities year-round. The fruits and vegetables harvested will be used in the school's cafeteria and cooking classes.
Ocean	Lacey Township	Lanoka Harbor Elementary	Will strategically place a water bottle refilling station in the hallway that all students and staff travel to get to the lunchroom. This initiative will promote a decrease in the use of recyclable water bottles and an increase in drinking more water.
Ocean	Lacey Township	Mill Pond Elementary	Will replace broken water fountains with new water bottle refilling stations to reduce the amount of waste produced by using plastic water bottles.
Ocean	Brick Township	Lanes Mill Road Elementary	Will purchase special recycling containers to streamline recycling efforts throughout the school and foster awareness on the benefits of recycling materials.
Ocean	Lacey Township	Lacey Township High School	Will retrofit four of the ten water fountains with water bottle refilling stations to promote access to healthy water and reduce the amount of waste being produced by using disposable plastic water bottles. Staff will develop lesson plans based on the project for the science and marketing curricula.
Passaic	Wayne Township	Randall Carter Elementary	Will enhance the Randall Carter Nature Trail by creating signs with animal and plant facts, constructing bird feeders and building benches along the trail. The trails provide an avenue for teaching k-5 students and the community about the importance of eco-friendly behaviors and attitudes.
Somerset	Hillsborough Twp High School	Hillsborough Twp Board of Education	Will support professional development training related to sustainability topics.
Warren	White Township Consolidated	White Township School	Will support efforts to improve the school's culture and climate by compiling survey data from the school community to identify any areas of concern and provide resources and assistance as needed.
Warren	Blairstown Township	Blairstown Elementary	Will support a school recycling program.

Quotes from $10,000 Grant Recipients (Listed alphabetically by county)

"The Leonia School District is so excited to be a recipient of a Sustainable Jersey for Schools grant. It will allow us to move forward in providing programming for our students, and a true sense of community-impact for Leonia.” --Joanne Megargee, Superintendent, Leonia School District, Bergen County

"We are very happy to receive this grant opportunity. This grant will provide students with learning opportunities in basic agriculture skills and develop partnerships with our community stakeholders that will provide students additional supports in career and healthy lifestyle choices.” --Dr. Mary Grucco, Superintendent, Vineland Public Schools, Cumberland County

"Gateway Regional High School is proud to receive the $10,000 Sustainable Jersey for Schools Grant funded by NJEA. This grant will provide our school district the opportunity to transform the courtyard into an outdoor learning center, increasing our ability to support STEAM projects and offer additional educational resources for staff and students. As we continue to transition to a more sustainable school environment, it is encouraging to know that we are supported by NJEA. Thank you for your support.” --Dr. Shannon Whalen, Superintendent, Gateway Regional School District, Gloucester County

"Hopewell Elementary School has been a driving force behind our district-wide sustainability efforts. The Sustainable Jersey/NJEA grant will allow us to expand the vertical gardens project that has captivated the interest of students and staff. By bridging the gap between science and nature, virtually all of the food grown in the classroom gardens will be used in our school lunches. Students can see the real-life connection between farming and food by seeing what is necessary to grow and produce the food we eat. This is the application of the Next Generation Science Standards at its best.” --Dr. Thomas Smith, Superintendent, Hopewell Valley Regional School District, Mercer County

"The Sustainable Jersey for Schools grant funded by NJEA will enable Middletown High School North to utilize the on-site greenhouse to offer the students a more personalized hands-on learning experience to develop future college, career and life skills. Middletown High School North is committed to practices that respect the environment and promote sustainability. The students and staff will be able to create projects that focus on unique horticultural, environmental and plant-biology experiments. It will be rewarding for students of all ability levels and backgrounds to present evidence of their individual learning experiences to faculty members, parents and community stakeholders.” --Dr. Patricia Vari-Cartier, Principal, Middletown High School North, Middletown Township School District, Monmouth County

"Cove Road School is honored and grateful for being a recipient of the Sustainable Jersey grant funded by NJEA. This grant will afford our students to learn valuable lessons about horticulture and demonstrate their knowledge by sharing their vegetables with the community.” --Wayne Ramsey, Principal, Cove Road Elementary School, Hazlet Township School District, Monmouth County

"The Washington Township School District is excited to have been selected as a 2017 Sustainable Jersey for Schools NJEA grant recipient. Creating foods waste discharge lines, recycling certain food waste items to provide nutrition to local farm animals, and partnering with our food service provider to roll out a "package-free" school snack program will complement our township's mission to engage community members in sustainability efforts that benefit our planet and its inhabitants.” --Jeffrey Mohre, Superintendent, Washington Township School District, Morris County

"To have two of our schools earn Sustainable Jersey for Schools grants during this cycle is a testament to our district’s commitment to student-centered education and a sustainable future. The greenhouse and garden project at Intermediate East and the Wolbachia Summer Research Project at High School South represent two diverse, innovative, and engaging initiatives that will have a lasting impact on our students. We are grateful to Sustainable Jersey, NJEA, and the regional partners that make outstanding opportunities like this possible.” --David Healy, Superintendent, Toms River Regional School District, Ocean County

“The Toms River Regional School Authentic Science Research (ASR) program encourages the spirit of discovery through hands-on learning using the scientific method, and the Sustainable Jersey for Schools grant will provide teacher training, equipment purchasing and allow the underclassmen in ASR to collect and analyze data from the Wolbachia Summer Research Project. The Wolbachia Summer Research Project will help students begin to establish the local frequency of the parasitic bacteria Wolbachia in our insect population, and increase career readiness in a lab setting.” --James Ricotta Jr., Principal, Toms River High School South, Toms River Regional School District, Ocean County

“The Elms Elementary School of Jackson Township is excited to accept this generous grant provided by Sustainable Jersey for Schools. With Sustainable Jersey support, these funds will help to build a living science curriculum that will bring S.T.E.M. to a level that would not have been possible. Empathy, flexibility, problem solving, and persistence are skills all children must acquire, nurture, and critique in order to be future ready in a thriving society. Through the implementation of agriculture, aquaculture, and farming, students’ learning will truly come alive through real world simulations, providing all students with access to problem solving in an authentic hands-on environment. The Elms Elementary School is so grateful for our students to have this opportunity and look forward to implementing this innovative program with our learners. Thank you Sustainable Jersey!” --Michael Burgos, Principal, Elms Elementary School, Jackson Township School District, Ocean County

"The Stillwater Schoolyard Garden and Greenhouse for Sustainability, a school-community wide effort, will achieve completion as we accept our $10,000 grant! Now, all children will be able to continue their sustainability education via hands-on lessons in the garden space and the outdoor classroom will further opportunities for outdoor education. We graciously accept this grant, and look forward to sharing our progress!” --Matthew Robinson, Superintendent, Stillwater Township School District, Sussex County

"High Point Regional High School would like to thank Sustainable Jersey for Schools for providing our students with a unique opportunity to collaborate on a cross-curricular endeavor - The Chihuly Schoolwide Sustainability Project. High Point’s amazing faculty, in particular three visionary educators - Lisa Hodgins, Ben Kappler, Aaron Baker - have combined art, civics, science, media and technology to capture student interests and work toward improving our school’s understanding of the process and importance of recycling. This project captures the essence of student creativity as well as the potential of authentic learning to impact student development. The depth to which virtually every academic discipline has been incorporated into this real-world project is stunning. It is staff and student collaboration such as this that remind us of the incredible capacity for our schools to build a bright and sustainable tomorrow. We look forward to continuing to work with Sustainable Jersey for Schools in our collective efforts to help students strengthen their commitment to the environment.” --Dr. Scott D. Ripley, Superintendent, High Point Regional School District, Sussex County

Select Quotes from Select $2,000 Grant Recipients (Listed alphabetically by county)

“The Weymouth Township School is honored to bring regularly scheduled meditation and yoga instruction to our students, staff and community as a result of this grant. Our mindful instruction will promote self-regulation, enhance focus and eliminate stress. Our intention is to include students and staff as well as families outside the school to address stress on all levels and generate a mindful community equipped to support one another.” --Dr. John Alfieri, Superintendent, Weymouth Township School District, Atlantic County

"The entire New York Avenue Family is absolutely thrilled to be receiving this grant. We are so excited about creating a butterfly garden for our school as a place for preschoolers to learn and as an opportunity to help the environment. In addition, we are very pleased to dedicate this garden in honor of a very special student who passed away this year. The New York Avenue Family looks forward to creating this special place together.” --Kim Tucker, Principal, New York Avenue School, Somers Point School District, Atlantic County

“This grant will allow the E.H. Slaybaugh School Complex to construct an outdoor learning classroom for our students. The ability to merge academic instruction and a healthy environment is paramount to future success.” --Kevin J. Fricke, Principal, E.H. Slaybaugh Elementary School, Egg Harbor Township School District, Atlantic County

"We are excited to receive funding from NJEA through the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program. We have embraced healthy living practices in our school community for years. This program synthesizes our sustainability initiatives into a common set of goals led by our green team. The funding will help us to expand students' and staff's access to healthy drinking water through the purchase of filtered hydration stations. Our local teachers' union, the Somers Point Education Association, is planning a Pride event at which we will gather families and staff for a Healthy Salad night, complete with a ribbon cutting ceremony and free BPA -free water bottles.” --Doreen Lee, Principal, Dawes Avenue Elementary School, Somers Point School District, Atlantic County

“The Tenafly High School Green Team with the support of the Tenafly Green Team, the Tenafly Environmental Commission and the Tenafly Board of Education was awarded a $2000 Sustainable Jersey grant to continue its environmental advocacy for the Tenafly High School community. Their next project is to utilize an empty courtyard space in the school’s science wing to create a garden fully landscaped with native New Jersey trees, shrubs and vines and recycled materials for benches to build an outdoor setting for students to read, relax, study and observe the native flora and fauna of northeastern New Jersey.” --James Morrison, Principal, Tenafly High School, Tenafly Public School District, Bergen County

“The Winslow Township School District is so pleased to receive funding for four projects from Sustainable Jersey for Schools. Not only does this further our efforts to achieve Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification, but these projects expose more of our students to the educational benefits of gardening, as well as providing more tools and resources they need to lead healthier lives. Thank you for enabling our students to help create a brighter future for New Jersey.” --Dr. H. Major Poteat, Superintendent, Winslow Township School District, Camden County

"The Caldwell - West Caldwell School District is very grateful to Sustainable Jersey for Schools and the NJEA for this generous grant. We are committed to fostering sustainability in our school community, and these grant funds will be a great help in doing so.” --James Heinegg, Superintendent, Caldwell School District, Essex County

“We are excited to have received a grant from Sustainable Jersey. With the support of the organization we will be able to further educate our students and staff on their role to help preserve the planet. In particular this grant will be used to encourage students to utilize reusable water bottles by adding multiple water filling stations throughout the school. --Lamont Thomas, Principal, Grover Middle School, West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, Mercer County

“Over the past several years, the Ewing Schools have made a concerted effort to enhance environmental awareness and promote sustainability efforts as part of our #EPSGoesGreen initiative. We are honored that two of our schools received grants and thrilled that these exciting projects are moving forward. We thank Sustainable Jersey and the NJEA and are excited to see the positive things that will come from this work, both for our students and for the environment!” --Michael Nitti, Superintendent, Ewing Township School District, Mercer County

“Through this exciting and innovative project, second grade students at J.V.B Wicoff Elementary School will become more knowledgeable on how they can take steps to be sustainable in their own homes. After participating in various classroom lessons facilitated by their teacher, the second-grade students/mentors, with the guidance of their second-grade teacher, will create lessons and teach two kindergarten classes at Town Center Elementary School. The students will then collaborate to create a children’s book on sustainability and share it with the community by placing copies in the Plainsboro and West Windsor Public Libraries and the Plainsboro and West Windsor Senior Centers.” --Dr. Michael C. Welborn, Principal, J.V.B. Wicoff Elementary School, West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, Mercer County

"Atlantic Highlands Elementary School is so pleased to have been chosen to receive a Sustainable Jersey NJEA grant to fund another water bottle filling station for the school. It is our hope that our students will continue to embrace the importance of

recycling, reusing and renewing resources which will greatly benefit the school and the Atlantic Highlands community for years to come.” --Dr. Susan Compton, Superintendent, Atlantic Highlands School District, Monmouth County

“Atlantic Highlands Elementary School is very honored to have been chosen to receive this grant to help towards the purchase of another water bottle filling station for our school. Students and staff will all benefit from the opportunity to use this resource and to increase our sustainability by using reusable bottles. Thank you very much!” --Janet Walling, Principal, Atlantic Highlands Elementary School, Atlantic Highlands School District, Monmouth County

“The Township of Ocean School District is honored to be awarded a Sustainable Jersey for Schools grant. This grant will enable us to initiate a garden club which will teach our students wonderful lessons in sustainability as well as form long-lasting community partnerships. Thank you to NJEA and Sustainable Jersey for their support.” --Dr. Jim Stefankiwicz, Superintendent, Township of Ocean School District, Monmouth County

“One of the outcomes of our participation in Sustainable Jersey for Schools is that we have become very mindful of "keeping green" in our decision-making processes. Asking ourselves 'How can we accomplish that goal with the least environmental impact?' is now a regular part of creating policy and practices in the District. We appreciate the input and ideas of our school's student green team especially, as well as influence from the Township's Green initiatives.” --Dr. Christian Angelillo, Superintendent/Principal, Rockaway Valley School, Boonton Township School District, Morris County

“I am honored to have been selected to receive this grant. A very special thank you to the Board of Education, Dr. Charleston, Dr. Winning, and the green team for all of their hard work and dedication in creating a more sustainable environment.” --Dr. Alicia K. Scelso, Principal, Pequannock Township High School, Pequannock Township School District, Morris County

“The Washington Township School District is excited to have been selected as a 2017 Sustainable Jersey for Schools NJEA grant recipient. Creating foods waste discharge lines, recycling certain food waste items in order to provide nutrition to local farm animals, and partnering with our food service provider to roll out a "package-free" school snack program will complement our township's mission to engage community members in sustainability efforts that benefit our planet and its inhabitants.” --Jeffrey Mohre, Superintendent, Washington Township School District, Morris County

“We here at Intermediate East are very excited that the Sustainable Jersey for Schools grant will provide us with everything we need to get our school garden started in the greenhouse of the outdoor learning center early this spring. This grant will give us the opportunity to involve a wide variety of classes addressing different subject matter to be involved in the process of setting up, planting, monitoring, and harvesting the food crop that will then be used in our school’s cafeteria, cooking classes as well as donated to the local food pantry. We look forward to utilizing the greenhouse and garden both during class time to enhance curriculum, as well as for an after-school gardening club that will include members of our community. Many of our teachers have expressed an interest in incorporating this valuable resource into their lessons, and I think it will be wonderful for the students of our school to see the process provide fresh produce for everyone to enjoy. We would like to sincerely thank Sustainable Jersey for awarding us this grant, and giving us these opportunities.” --Bryan Madigan, Principal, Toms River Intermediate East School, Toms River Regional School District, Ocean County

“The Sustainable Jersey for Schools grant will directly benefit our students at Lanes Mill Elementary School. Through this grant, the students are empowered and given the resources to learn and practice sustainability. This recognition is a great reflection of the hard work and dedication of the staff and students and we are so proud.” --Dennis Filippone, Superintendent, Brick Township Public Schools, Ocean County

“The Lanes Mill Elementary School is very proud of our "Green Team" in their efforts to secure this grant. This grant will help us to ensure our commitment to maintain our efforts in creating a healthy and positive environment. This grant will support these efforts.” --Jefferey Luckenbach, Principal, Lanes Mill Road Elementary School, Brick Township Public Schools, Ocean County

“The Lacey Township School District is so very thankful to be recognized by Sustainable Jersey for Schools NJEA grant program. Our green teams and sustainability initiatives have been passionately embraced across the district and now thankfully recognized at the Lanoka Harbor School, Mill Pond School and Lacey Township High School. We hope to see more recognition and as our sustainability efforts continue into the future.” --Craig Wigley, Superintendent, Lacey Township School District, Ocean County

"The Sustainable Jersey for Schools program has meant so much to the Wayne Township Public Schools. We are proud that every one of our schools achieved bronze level certification. We are one of the few school systems in New Jersey to earn district-wide certification. While we appreciate the financial incentives associated with the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program, the incentives are not always visible to the students and to the community. In this case, the opposite is true. Our $2,000 grant will allow for a highly visible enhancement that directly benefits our students. Our goal is to restore and redesign a nature trail at Randall Carter Elementary that will link our elementary curricula directly to the natural environment. Congratulations to Principal Scot Burkholder and his outstanding team of teachers for finding a way to enhance the educational experience for all of their students and thank you to the New Jersey Educational Association and Sustainable Jersey for Schools for providing schools with these much-needed grants." --Dr. Toback, Superintendent, Wayne Township Public School District, Passaic County

“Our green team members look forward to working to educate teachers, administrators and staff members on the benefits of environmental sustainability through this grant from Sustainable Jersey for Schools. It is our goal that by providing teachers with professional development on this important topic, the information will continue into the classroom and home with our Hillsborough students as well.” --Dr. Jorden Schiff, Superintendent, Hillsborough Township School District, Somerset County

“The Blairstown Township School District is excited for the opportunity to update our recycling program. This grant money will ensure that each classroom and office in our building is recycling responsibly and will allow students to be active participants in the process. We look forward to our continued efforts to become a more sustainable school. --Dr. Mark Saalfield, Superintendent, Blairstown Township School District, Warren County